The main thrust of this letter that runs from greeting to farewell is that a true Christian and a true church lives with a gospel focus.

When you are asked, "What is important to you?" what guides your decisions,

dictates how you use your time and your money? What occupies your thought life? And that is to ask “what defines who you are” .

The answer ought to be, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus is not a hobby. It’s not a weekend event. It’s not even a once a day thing. It’s an all encompassing, life permeating focus on the gospel. And when it comes to church who we are and what we do as a church gathered, the gospel isn’t just the door we enter through. It isn’t just our message we have for those outside. It’s the air we breath and the food we eat. It’s our lifeblood. It is our strength and our song. It’s what unites us, defines us, mobilizes us and empowers us.